Page 80 of Baby Duke

East whimpers. I blindly reach behind me and grasp her hand tightly.

Vincent's attention returns to me.

"But you, Rowena Nixon,youI expected nothing less of. The little money-mongering whore from the slums who somehow managed to take my only son from me. Quite frankly, I am ecstatic to have you here, Roe."

"And where exactly wouldherebe, Vincent?" I glower.

His face splits into a wide grin, and he laughs again, Mr. Foster joining in.

"Why, you are where you have been trying to get to since you first heard of it."

At my blank look, he continues.

"Welcome to The Den, Rowena.”

"The Den?" I whisper. My shoulders relax slightly. West was here. Or he would be soon. He was going to save us.

"You seem relieved?"

I raise my chin but say nothing.

"You shouldn't be. The Den is lawless, my dear."

"Quit boasting and tell us what this place is," I grunt.

Mr. Foster wags a finger in my face. "Uh-uh-uh,thatis a surprise, my sweet thing."

I want to hurl at his endearment.

"Sir is going to get you well acquainted, Rowena, don't you worry," Vincent says. He pulls back a sleeve to take a peek at his sleek black Rolex. "It’s time. East, you’re with me. I have the perfect place for you to watch tonight's festivities. My office has a one-way glass wall that has the best view in the house.”

Anticipating his move, I put myself between him and her as his arm strikes like a snake for her arm.

He growls deep in his throat when his hand is knocked aside.

"Sir, if you will?"

"With pleasure."

Mr. Foster is suddenly there, his arms wrapped around me in a bear hug that holds me tight to his chest.

"No!" I yell and kick as he pulls me aside. East screams as her father takes her arm into a white-knuckled grip and hauls her off the bed. She struggles for a moment before he swings his fist and backhands her across the face.

"Mother fucker!" I scream, my efforts to escape double as Mr. Foster squeezes me tighter. "Don't fucking touch her! Don't you fucking lay a hand on her, you fucking pig!"

Vincent holds a thumb to the scanner, and it turns green and beeps, the door sliding open. He hauls East through the door, her wide, desperate eyes meeting mine once more before she is pulled away and the door clicks closed.

"I'm fucking coming for you!" I scream, Mr. Foster holding tight despite the closed door. "You hear that, Vincent Mazzuchelli? I will find you, and I will destroy you!"

A frustrated and heartbroken shrill vibrates through my throat before I fall limp, the man behind me the only thing keeping me from falling to my knees. I cry as the weight of being truly alone hits me.

After a moment, I become aware of Mr. Foster cooing, comforting nothings in my ear as he brushes my hair back with his hand. I also become aware of the prominent hard length of him poking into my ass.

"Get off me!" I screech, my fight or flight senses kicking in once more.

With a chuckle, Mr. Foster lets me go. I dart into the farthest corner of the room and brace myself. To run, fight, play dead, whatever the fuck I need to do to survive this.

Mr. Foster settles himself on the end of the bed, legs spread wide and a grin on his face as he watches me.

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